here is a small example:

ActiveX controls, mini program building blocks, can serve to create distributed applications working over the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet" rel="nofollow - - Internet through web browsers. Examples include customized applications for gathering data, viewing certain kinds of files, and displaying animation.

ActiveX controls are comparable to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_applet" rel="nofollow - Java applets : programmers designed both of these mechanisms to allow web browsers to download and execute them. But Java applets can run on nearly any platform, while ActiveX components officially operate only with Microsoft's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer" rel="nofollow - Internet Explorer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_browser" rel="nofollow - web browser and the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Windows" rel="nofollow - Microsoft Windows http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system" rel="nofollow - operating system . ^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ActiveX#cite_note-1" rel="nofollow - [2]}

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malware" rel="nofollow - Malwares , e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_virus" rel="nofollow - computer viruses and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyware" rel="nofollow - spywares , can be accidentally installed from malicious websites using ActiveX controls ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drive-by_download" rel="nofollow - drive-by downloads ).

Programmers can write ActiveX controls in any language which supports COM component development, including the following languages/environments:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%2B%2B" rel="nofollow - C++ either directly or with the help of libraries such as http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Template_Library" rel="nofollow - ATL or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Foundation_Classes" rel="nofollow - MFC ^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ActiveX#cite_note-2" rel="nofollow - [3]}
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borland_Delphi" rel="nofollow - Borland Delphi
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_Basic" rel="nofollow - Visual Basic
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.NET_Framework" rel="nofollow - .NET Framework (C#/VB.NET)

Common examples of ActiveX controls include http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button_%28computing%29" rel="nofollow - command buttons , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_box" rel="nofollow - list boxes , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialog_box" rel="nofollow - dialog boxes , and the Internet Explorer browser.^{[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" rel="nofollow -}

Vote #2

Your classes should have started with a study in Ockham's Razor.

This site is pretty bulletproof.  Only the owner of this site can load a malicious activeX control.  Only you can accept it.  Neither are likely.

I own a full copy of the raw code for this site.  It's written entirely in VBScript, which is classic ASP.  It uses JavaScript, HTML, CSS, SSI, cookies and is ported to MSSQL Server.  Most work for the pages occurs server side.  Very little occurs client side.  Few worries.  There are a few bugs in the WYSWYG editor, which could trigger your clipboard warnings, but it's more likely that it's something in your browser.  Just clear your cache.

FWIW, I never browse without my developer console open.  I see all...

Learning at least some basic HTML & JavaScript, especially the upcoming HTML5 will serve you well in real world work situations.  You're right to avoid it while in school because it's a distraction for now.  Down the road, you'll want to know if some jackass wrote a bad script or code or if it's your network/server configuration causing a problem.

I can tell you as the owner of a tech company; after a few years, you can no longer see much difference between the admins, developers and network guys.  They all work so closely together that their skills blend after about 36 months on a real job.  This is why big name companies insist on 3 to 5 years experience.

Good luck in your training.  This field requires above average intelligence to be successful.  You'll do fine.

I made a calculator once in Visual Basic and im proud of it LOL.